Fire-escape.



No. s94,|4s. Patented Feb. 25, 1902.

.1. FRENZEL.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Nov. 14, 1901.)

(No Hodei.)

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UNITED STATES JOSEPH FRENZEL, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFIATION forming part (if Letters Patent NO. 694,14 5, dated February 25, 1902. Application filed November 14, 1901. Serial No. 82,184. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FRENZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, borough of Queens, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved lirecscape in which the property of a helical coil of soft wire adapted to expand or uncoil longitudinally when suiiicient weight is applied to the coil is utilized, and thereby a very cheap, convenient, effective, and reliable fireescape obtained and one which can be readily adapted for use of persons of different weight, so that the fire-escape can be used by men, women, or children, as required; and the invention consists of a fire-escape comprising a plurality of closely-wound helical coils of wire free to expand at both ends and uniformly and simultaneously throughout their full length, a suspension-ring at the upper ends of said coils, suspension-rings connecting the lower ends of said coils, a handlebar connected with the lower suspensionrings, a suspension device, means connecting one end of the same with said lower suspension-rings, and means connecting the other end of said suspension device detachably to said rings.

The invention consists, further, of certain detailsof construction,which will be described hereinafter in connection with the parts of the fire-escape, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved fire-escape, showing the same in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same drawn on a larger scale, and Figs. 3, 4c, 5, and 6 are diagrams showing fire-escapes with different numbers of coils.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, (t represents a helically-wound coil of wire of suitable thickness and strength to sustain normally a weight of twenty-five pounds. Any other suitable unit of weight may, however, be used. The length of the wire coil when uncoiled is equal to the height of the room in which the fireescape is to be placed from the ground. The

coils maybe made of iron, brass, or other suitable wire-soft, medium hard, or hard. Each coil is bent at both ends in the form of small rings a, which are connected by snap-hooks b, of the well-known construction, at their upper ends with a suspension-ring b, which is preferably formed of a number of turns of wire, and in a similar manner at their lower ends by snap-hooks b with suspension-rings N, which are coiled around the middle portion of a cross-bar or handle-bar d. To the rings 12 of the cross-bar is applied a suspension device, preferably formed of a strip f of felt, leather, or other material of suitable thickness and strength, which is provided with metallic eyelets and to one end of which a strong loop e of wire is attached, said loop being bent in shape and passing at its apex through the coiled portions 11 of the rings 6 attached to the handle-bar, as shown in Fig. 2. This V- shaped loop 6 carries at its outer end a strong hook e, which is passed through the eyelet on the opposite end of the suspension device, or the suspension device may be provided with a snap-hook, that can be connected with the end of the V-shaped loop. The upper and lower suspension-rings form suspension members connecting, respectively, the upper ends of all the coils with each other and the lower ends with each other.

Theplurality of extensible coils, with the upper and lower suspension-rings, snap-hooks connected with said rings, cross-bar, a suspension device, and the connecting loop and hook, form the improved fire-escape, which is hung up at a suitable point near the Window. The length of the coils employed corresponds to the height of the room from the ground and is therefore made longer the higher the room is above the ground. When the thickness of wire of one coil is arranged for a weight of twenty-five pounds, eight coils are provided for a fire-escape, which will carry a person weighing about two hundred pounds. A greaternumber of coils may be provided, however, so as to provide for the escape of a person of any weight. These coils are all connected to the suspension-rings.

When a person of small weight desires to descend in case of danger, one or more of the coils are detached from the lower suspensionrings by removing their snap-hooks, so that only as many coils are called into extensible action as correspond to the weight of the person. For instance, if the weight of the person is one hundred and fifty pounds two coils are to be detached and the remaining six are suflicient for permitting the lowering of the person. If a child weighing about fifty pounds is to descend, six of the coils would be detached, so that the child would be lowered by the extension of two coils. This disconnection of one or more of the coils from the fire-escape adapts it to different weights, so that it can be readily adjusted by the person desiring to use the fire-escape. To each fire-escape when sold are applied proper tags indicating the manner of using the same, so as to adapt it to a person of any weight.

In some cases it may be desirable to use fire-escapes of different sizes-say one with four coils, another with six, and another with eight, &c.so as to provide for the escape of different members of the family when the fire-escapes are used in ordinary residences; but for hotels, apartment-houses, tenementhou'ses, &c., it is preferable to provide a fireescape with eight or ten coils to each room, so that the person occupying the room can attach the number of coils to be used.

Escape can be accomplished in the following manner: A mattress, as B, is folded and placed over the window-ledge B. The upper suspension-ring is then placed on a strong hook d attached to the window-casing (Z,and the suspension-belt f passed around the body beneath the arms of the person about to descend and hooked onto the hook e, while he grasps with his hands the handle-bar (Z. He permits himself to slip off the mattress. The coils slowly uncoil at both ends, and he is gradually lowered to a place of safety. The coils not required and not attached at their lower ends to the rings 6 are not expanded, and consequently can be hooked in for use when restoring the fire-escape to its normal condition by the addition of new coils to take the place of those which have been used. The expanded coils are spent and of no further use, and therefore it is preferable that hotels should carry a stock of additional coils to supply the places of those which are spent in case of fire. Any suitable form of suspension device can be used, the one shown being made of a stout felt strap provided with metallic eyes at its ends for connection with the loop and hook, by which it is connected to the cross-bar.

My improved fire-escape has the advantage that it is of simple and cheap construction and affords a reliable means of escaping from fire. It can be readily restored by the addition of new coils to its normal condition, which coils can be supplied in difierent lengths and sizes of wire, so as to be readily adapted for the difierent floors from the ground and provides a safe and reliable means of escape from the window of a burning building after it has been properly applied to the body and sus pended from the window-casing or other point of support, the handle-bar,in connection with the suspension device, giving a feeling of security while descending to the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A fire-escape, consisting of a plurality of closely-wound helical coils of wire, free to expand at both ends, an upper suspension memher, a lowersuspension member, a suspension device connected with the lower suspension member, and means detachably connecting said coils individually with said upper and lower suspension members, substantially as set forth.

2. Afire-escape consisting of a plurality of closely-wound helical coils of wire free to expand at both ends, suspension-rings at the upper and lower ends of said coils; snap-hooks connecting the coils therewith, a cross-bar connected with the lower suspension-rings, a suspension device for the body, and means for connecting said suspension device with the lower suspension-rings, substantially as set forth.

3. A fire-escape consisting of a plurality of closely-wound helical coils of wire free to expand at both ends,suspension-rings connected with the upper and lower ends of said coils, a suspension device adapted to be applied to the body, means for connecting one end of said suspension device with the lower suspension-rings, and means connecting the oppositeend of the suspension device detachably with the suspension-rings, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my namein presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH FRENZEL.

W'itnesses:

JOSEPH H. NILES, HENRY SUHOLIER. 

